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News from the August 2010 www.globalgreens.org Global news Global Congress The Second Congress of the is now upon us! This is a great opportunity for young activists to come together from around the world, share their vision for the future, meet fellow young greens and learn new skills. Important discussions about the restructuring of the Global Young Greens will also at the Congress. • August 8 th – August 14 th in Berlin, • You can find more information at http://www.globalyounggreens.org

Global Greens Congress Planning has begun for the third Congress to be held in 2012/2013 in Africa or Europe. Watch for more news in future newsletters.

Profile of a GGC Member – Sandra Yenwen Peng Sandra Yenwen Peng is associate professor in Public Policy and Management at Shih Hsin University in Taipei and mother of a 3-year-old. She was a founding member of in 1996 and chairperson in 2005-2006. Sandra has been actively involved in women’s rights activism in Taiwan since graduate school, where she organized a famous student campaign called “Occupying Men’s Toilets” to underscore gender-based disparities in public facilities. The campaign forced a change in local statutes and inspired Sandra’s ongoing commitment to social-political activism. In 1998 she stood for election to the Taipei City Council gaining 3.38% of the vote. After receiving her Ph.D., she returned to Taiwan from the US in 2004 and has committed to strengthening Green Party Taiwan. Sandra was elected to the GGC at the APGN 2010 Congress.

African Greens Congress The African Greens Congress was successfully held from the15 th -18 th April, 2010 in Kampala, . It was attended by delegates from 24 countries across the five African sub-regions and observers from the Global Greens, Swedish Green Forum and Heinrich Bell Foundation. It was a new dawn for Green parties and movements in Africa. The congress saw the birth of the Africa Greens Federation (AGF) and the formal adoption of its Constitution, Charter, Rules and Procedures. The Congress elected an Executive Committee and representatives to the Global Greens Coordination. The late Ms. Mwenya Mukula, a strong Green voice from , was honoured with a tree planted in commemoration of her many contributions. Conference documents can be found at http://www.africangreens.org/

APGN 2010 The second Congress of the Asia Pacific Greens Network (APGN) was held in Taipei from April 30 to May 2 2010, with delegates from 20 countries around the region and beyond. The Congress adopted new rules, a five-year strategic plan, 17 resolutions on issues of concern and the over-arching ‘Fair Share’ Declaration as well as electing a Coordinating Committee and GGC representatives.

Open space technology enabled discussions on all kinds of issues. The second day focused on and included inspirational presentations from Tuvaluan Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia, renowned Indian environmental activist and author Dr Vandana Shiva and Senator . Conference outcomes and reports are available at http://www.apgn2010.org/apgn-congress-outcomes . Around the Green world Green Candidate in Colombian Presidential run-off. Colombian Green Party Candidate, Antanas Mockus nearly pulled off a shock upset win in this year’s presidential election. His campaign featured strong use of Facebook and downloadable music donated by musicians gaining him 21% of the vote in the first round of elections held on 30 May. In the June 20 run-off election he achieved 27%, a strong indicator of future Green potential.

Marina Silva for President in The Brazilian Greens’ exciting presidential candidate is Senator , female, black and born in the heart of the Amazon. Marina was the former environment minister to the current president Lula de Silva and joined Partido Verde in 2009. The election to replace Lula (who is ineligable having already served two terms) is on 3 October. Follow the campaign (in Portuguese) at www.facebook.com/marinasilva.oficial?v=app_6009294086#!/marinasilva.oficial?v=wall

First Green MP in the UK , the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales was elected in May as the party's first MP to Westminster Parliament, breaking through the antiquated "first-past- the-post" voting system. Representing Brighton Pavilion on England's South Coast, she is the only Green voice at Westminster but is already being heard loud and clear!

Dutch Greens in talks On 9 June Dutch green party GroenLinks gained 6.6% of the vote and 10 seats in the national parliament, up from 7 in the last election in 2006. GroenLinks is now in talks with 3 other parties about forming a coalition Government.

Dramatic first election result for new Green party in In April the new party Lehet Mas A Politika (Politics Can Be Different) entered parliament with 16 seats and 7.43% of the vote. It was the first campaign that the party, formed in 2009, had ever run!

Repression in As Rwandan elections approach on August 9, repression and fear are increasing, culminating in the recent brutal murder of Rwandan Greens Vice President Andre Kagwe Rwisereka. Greens around the world have called for an end to human rights abuses against politicians and journalists and for and other parties to be allowed to operate freely. Commonwealth countries have particular responsibility since they admitted Rwanda as a member less than a year ago. André’s funeral was held on Tuesday and was attended by his four children. Our deepest sympathies are with the Rwisereka family and the Green Party of Rwanda.

Satoko Watanabe for Provincial Governor in Former GGC Member Satoko Watanabe is standing for election to the position of Governor of the Kagawa Prefecture. Japan consists of 47 Prefectures, which are like cantons in or provinces/states of many other countries. Kagawa is located on the Japanese island of Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands. Satako has been a member of the Prefecture’s assembly will contest the election for governor on Saturday August 29 th . You can follow Satako’s campaign in here http://www.watanabesatoko.net/ (only in Japanese).

Greens aim for balance of power in A federal election has been called in the to take place on Saturday August 21. Greens have achieved record high polling in recent months and hope to win the balance of power in the Senate (upper house of the Australian parliament). Currently there are five Green Senators : Bob Brown , , , and Sarah Hanson-Young .